Lower your Cayenne 955/ 957 Air Suspension

Revised: 03/14/13 Created by: Renaissance.man

using a Durametric cable

What is the purpose of this tutorial?

To lower your Cayenne 955 or 957 without a lowering module or lowering links. This is the same procedure to calibrate a new Techart lowering module- except you have to use the “correct” measurements (do not add anything to the values).

How does this work?

In a nutshell, the air suspension has some degree of adjustability built in by the factory. This is if one of your air shock where sitting too high or too low. There is approx. 1 inch of leeway here. So we will be taking advantage of this by telling the suspension that it is sitting 1 inch (or less) too high, therefore it will compensate by lowering it even more in all modes.

How come my dealer cannot do this?

Your dealer or independent mechanic can do this. Either they do not know how or they declare ignorance since they do not want to be held liable. This is not designed to be a “requested” feature.

Any downsides?

I am assuming that in the event that you “need” to have one of your air shocks adjusted, they may not have any more room in the adjustability. So you would have to go back to stock height to get it adjusted.

What do I need to get started?

Durametric cable (any version) Durametric USB drivers and latest software version from website Laptop (hooked up to your OBD port and Durametric cable) Patience and commitment in the event that you have any errors. Schedule for at least 3

hours uninterrupted.

How does it ride?

Not much different than if you had a lowering module. Firmer, but still compliant. This a popular mod for the Touareg guys. I ran this way for close to 2 years.

Disclaimer:

I am not responsible for any thing you do to your vehicle, and can not be held liable for any damage you may do by reading this document (or related postings) and applying it to your car. User is presumed to have a fair level of mechanical or auto electrical skill in doing any DIY. If you are at all uncomfortable or inexperienced working on vehicles, electronics, or mechanical parts, please ask a professional for assistance. The author shall not in any way be held responsible for any damage resulting from user’s fault or failure to follow the suggested steps proposed by the author. It’s the user’s responsibility to research thoroughly on the project and validate the tutorial. All information posted in this document is provided "as is" without any warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, including but not limited to fitness for a particular use. Any user assumes the entire risk as to the accuracy and use of this information

Lets start: Inside the Durametric software, in the left pane, drill down to select “Level Control”

Select the “Adaptation” tab

from the main window

Select “Read” to get initial stored values.

NOTES

Make sure you have your vehicle running or you will drain your battery

Before you begin, make sure you record measurements from all four wheels. I suggest measuring from the ground to the middle of each wheel arch in “Normal” mode

Your suspension will go up and down while it gets its initial readings

Do not open your door during this step or it will not be able to complete

It will take a few minutes before the system is ready.

NOTES

Unlike other programs, pay attention to the greyed-out text

This confirms which wheel is currently being programmed.

This is the “Front , Driver”

NOTES

Record all current values (as you get them) for future reference. There should be 4 total values – 1 for each wheel. You will need this to base your new value off of or in case you need to rollback changes.

This is the currently stored value. Write this down for reference.

NOTES

These numbers are in millimeters.

To convert from inches to mm,

multiple by 25.4. So 6 ¾ inches, would be 171mm (rounded).

To lower your Cayenne on this corner, enter a “higher” number. To raise your Cayenne, enter a “lower” number.

The “easy” way to lower your Cayenne is to add up to 25mm to each of the “current values”. Do not try to add more than 25mm or you will get an error.

The “correct” way is to measure four points on the subframe assembly (will provide images separately). The original values are almost spot on, so I doubt they vary much.

EXAMPLE: To lower your Cayenne a full inch the “easy” way, add “25” to the “current value” and enter it here. So

190 + 25 = 215 (New Value)

Press here to save your new value

NOTES

If you get an error, you will have to take additional steps to get past it (sigh): Sometimes the height sensors will not

register correctly, so you can try to rock the vehicle on that side (supposedly this has worked for some).

If you still get the error message. Turn off the vehicle and restart your laptop. Before you start the process again from the beginning, raise your suspension all the way up and all the way down. Now start the process over again.

If at any point, you get an “Accumulator charging” warning on your cluster, you have overheated the air compressor. Take a 20 min break, then start again.

If it accepts your new value, you will see “learned” here. If not, you will get an error.

NOTES

Verify “Current Value” now reflects the value you just entered.

Once your value has been learned, we have to move on to the next wheel.

Press “Up” to move on to the next

wheel or “channel”

We are now ready to program the next wheel “Front, Passenger” or Channel 2.

Record the current value, enter the new value, and save as in previous steps

If it accepts your new value, you will see

“learned” here. If not, you will get an error.

NOTES

If you get an error, you will have to take additional steps to get past it (sigh): Sometimes the height sensors will not

register correctly, so you can try to rock the vehicle on that side (supposedly this has worked for some).

If you still get the error message. Turn off the vehicle and restart your laptop. Before you start the process again from the beginning, raise your suspension all the way up and all the way down. Now start the process over again.

If at any point, you get an “Accumulator charging” warning on your cluster, you have overheated the air compressor. Take a 20 min break, then start again.

Press “Up” to move on to the next

wheel or “channel”

We are now ready to program the next

wheel “Back, Driver” or Channel 3.

Record the current value, enter the new value, and save as in previous steps

If it accepts your new value, you will see

“learned” here. If not, you will get an error.

NOTES

If you get an error, you will have to take additional steps to get past it (sigh): Sometimes the height sensors will not

register correctly, so you can try to rock the vehicle on that side (supposedly this has worked for some).

If you still get the error message. Turn off the vehicle and restart your laptop. Before you start the process again from the beginning, raise your suspension all the way up and all the way down. Now start the process over again.

If at any point, you get an “Accumulator charging” warning on your cluster, you have overheated the air compressor. Take a 20 min break, then start again.

Press “Up” to move on to the next

wheel or “channel”

We are now ready to program the next wheel “Back, Passenger” or Channel 4.

Record the current value, enter the new value, and save as in previous steps

NOTES

If you get an error, you will have to take additional steps to get past it (sigh): Sometimes the height sensors will not

register correctly, so you can try to rock the vehicle on that side (supposedly this has worked for some).

If you still get the error message. Turn off the vehicle and restart your laptop. Before you start the process again from the beginning, raise your suspension all the way up and all the way down. Now start the process over again.

If at any point, you get an “Accumulator charging” warning on your cluster, you have overheated the air compressor. Take a 20 min break, then start again.

If it accepts your new value, you will see “learned” here. If not, you will get an error.

Press “Up” to move on to saving

these settings

On Channel 5, you will be able to save changes or go back to factory settings.

Enter “1” to save all changes or “0” to reset your changes.

Click here save your settings

If successful, you will see “control position” and “learned”. The suspension will start to adjust to its new settings. If there is a problem,

you will get an error.

NOTES

If you get an error, you will have to take additional steps to get past it (sigh): Sometimes the height sensors will not

register correctly, so you can try to rock the vehicle on that side (supposedly this has worked for some).

If you still get the error message. Turn off the vehicle and restart your laptop. Before you start the process again from the beginning, raise your suspension all the way up and all the way down. Now start the process over again.

If at any point, you get an “Accumulator charging” warning on your cluster, you have overheated the air compressor. Take a 20 min break, then start again.

NOTES

Go outside and measure all wheels

from the ground to the wheel arch. Compare these readings, to the initial ones recorded.

If you are not happy or if one wheel well is sitting a little different from the rest, start the complete process over again from beginning.

Congratulations. You have now lowered your Cayenne with just software in your driveway!

Once the suspension has settled, click here to finish